Genealogical Gems

While researching a marriage this morning, I stumbled upon this great resource: (taken verbatim from Lancaster County website) New Course! Searching Deeper: Untraditional Geneaology Sources at the Lancaster County Archives Fridays, March 8th and November 8th (same class offered two different dates) 9am - noon Lancaster County Government Center Annex: Room 102/104 Plus:Take a tour of the Lancaster County Archives Department! Also, Lancaster Central Market is open on Fridays and just a block away! Discovering Your Roots: Genealogy Sources at the Lancaster County Archives Fridays, February 8th, May 3rd, July 12th, and October 4th (same class offered four different dates) 9am - noon Lancaster County Government Center Annex: Room 102/104 Plus:Take a tour of the Lancaster County Archives Department! Also, Lancaster Central Market is open on Fridays and just a block away! Homemade History: Researching Your Historic Home at the Lancaster County Archiv...

As May comes to a close, this is our last National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM) entry until next year. We will continue to highlight our servicemen and women on Monday's as GeneaBloggers promote Military Mondays. Today we randomly chose World War II veteran Herbert Eckman of Lancaster County, PA Herbert served in the Army from 31 August 1942 to 8 December 1943. He was born 19 May 1913. Herbert was six when the 1920 Census was taken. He was at home with his parents -  Frank M & Nevada - and his siblings: Emlyn S., Ray, Beluha, Dorothy, and Delmar.  The 1930 Census shows Herbert - then 16 - living with his parents and his older brother Delmar, age 18. Frank was a automobile salesman. Delmar was a laborer in a pickle plant and herbert was still in school. His wife is Dorothy M. Eckman. The 1940 Census shows he and Dorothy living on a farm in Drumore Township, Lancaster County, PA. Living with them was a hired hand by name of Warren Boyd. Boyd was 20 at the time...

John Frederick Eckman served in the Navy in WWI. He served from 23 September 1918 until 30 September 1921. He was born on 20 February 1897 to William Aldus and Annie E Stively Eckman in Quarryville. The 1910 Census shows the then 13 year old John at home in Lancaster City. He was one of five children, although his parents had lost a child by the 1910 census. His father was a commercial traveler in the carpet cleaning industry. In 1918 when he registered for the draft, John was living in Detroit, MI, working for a sales company. His father, who was listed as his closest kin, was still in Lancaster County, PA. The 1920 census includes John as a lodger with the Trapp Family in Detroit. He worked as a machine operator in the auto industry. He passed on 20 January 1985. He is buried at the New Providence Mennonite Cemetery, New Providence, Lancaster County, PA with his wife Helen May Moore (1895-1971).

NGS has announced the 2014 Family History Conference will be held 7–10 May 2014 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and Marriott Hotel located in downtown Richmond, Virginia.   Below is their press release issued today:   Conference highlights and contact information for conference hotels can be found in the Announcement Brochure, which can be downloaded at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/galleries/new-gallery/2014_Announcement_Brochure.pdf . The conference theme, Virginia: The First Frontier, will explore the records and history that draw so many back to their roots in the Old Dominion. Lecture topics will also include migration into, within, and out of the region down the Great Wagon Road, over the Appalachian Mountains, and across the south to Texas and beyond.   Genealogy conferences in Richmond, Virginia, are always well attended, so plan to make your reservations early. The five conference hotels will accept reservations beginning 1 June ...

Oscar's headstone is a simple stone. His name is included on the family stone and he also has an individual stone that reads "Oscar D. Eckman, Mec. USA Amb. Cps. Unit 583." He was born on 21 April 1878 to John Henry and Catharine Kezia Cresswell Eckman, one of 11 children. The family attended the Zion UCC in Providence Township. His brother Charles is my husband's great grandfather.

  Ann Harris 14 June 1904 11 January 1978   buried at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery Valley Township, Chester County, PA   Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

Private James Deyoe served in the 120th Regiment, Co B in the Civil War. He enlisted on 8 August 1862 in  Shandaken, Ulster, New York. James was born 8 Jul 1822 in Lexington, Greene Co, New York to John and Mary Schermerhorn Deyoe. He was one of six children to the couple. The 1880 Census lists Eliza Lane as his wife. She is 35, he is 57. They also have a 73 year old servant - Smith Griffin - who is a farm laborer. He passed on 21 November 1890 and is buried at the Deyoe Family Cemetery in Lexington, NY. One of James' siblings is Daniel G. Deyoe. Daniel married Louise Sharp and their son Moran G. Deyoe was my husband's maternal grandfather. Sources: New York State Archives; Albany, New York;  Town Clerks´ Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War, ca 1861-1865 ; Collection Number:  (N-Ar)13774 ; Box Number:  64 ; Roll Number:  35 .

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Originally called Decoration Day, its exact origins have been blurred over the years. The day itself was officially proclaimed by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic on 5 May 1868. It was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday in 1873. After World War I, the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress and - sadly I might add - placed on the last Monday in May. Moving the day to a Monday like any other federal holiday diminished its true relevance. Memorial Day is - and should be remembered as - a National Day of Mourning. Memorial Day is not about barbeques and sales at the mall. It...

Exciting news to share .... while looking up Sunday's NMAM piece , I confirmed that Martin Eckman, who fought in the Revolutionary War and is buried in the Eckman/Kunkle Cemetery,  is my husband's 4th great grandfather! Actually John Martin Eckman is his full name. He is the son of Jerome Hieronimous (1718 – 1784) and Barbara Slaymaker (1724 – 1796) Eckman! John Martin Eckman married Elizabeth Sides. They had nine children: Mary Susanna Henry Martin Elizabeth Hieronimous Daniel Sarah Jacob Elizabeth Eckman married (yes a cousin) Henry Eckman. They had eight children: Daniel Catharine John Henry Lydia Ann Martha Elizabeth Mary John Henry Eckman married Catharine Kezia Cresswell on 7 January 1858 in Providence Township. They had 11 children! Clara Charles Henry Dora H. Margaret Estella John Grant Darius J. Martha Ann Winona Sue Kate Bernice Oscar Dale Edith Alberta Charles Henry Eckman married Rosa T. Kirchner fro...

There is so much information provided in Civil War records and the two World War records but not so much for those soldiers who initially fought for our freedoms here in the States. The "Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783" includes entries for a couple Eckmans, though I am sure more served. The Index includes a John Eckman, a Martin Eckman and a Henry Eackman. There are also many Heckmans and Hickmans that came up in a simply search by surname. Both John and Martin are listed under "Associates and Militia". John is a Lieutenant and Martin is a Private. Henry (not shown) is a Lieutenant and is also listed under "Associates and Militia." My search parameters had merely been Eckman, born and lived in PA. While John was tough to track down with certainty, Martin was relatively easy as someone else had taken a photo (at right) of Martin's grave - with the Revolutionary War grave marker - and uploaded it to Ancestr...

This month we have been honoring a different veteran each day. Today's randomly chosen veteran is Jacob Eckman who served in the War of 1812. He enlisted on 25 August 1813 and served as a Private in Capt. Stansbury's Co 38 US Inf. He was discharged 30 April 1814. Jacob was born 30 September 1791 in Loudon, Virginia to Peter and Elizabeth Eckman. According to a fellow researcher, Peter was a son of Hans Jacob Eckman and was born in 1751 in Pennsylvania. His first wife was Margaret Lind (1801-1834). He married Mary Raney (1792-1875) in 1844. He passed away on 10 September 1877. They lived in Cleves, Hamilton County, Ohio. He fathered five children between the two wives. They are: Addison Shannon Eckman (1820-1860); George Washington Eckman (182-1877); Peter L. Eckman (1824-1867); William Henry Eckman (1828-1884); and Eliza Eckman Geeding (1840-1924). He is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Cleves, Hamilton County, OH. Source: Ancestry.com. War of 1812 Pension ...

Lately I feel like I have been running in several different directions at once. Normally I am very organized and everything has its place. However, as my life gets more stressful, my desk has become cluttered in one large pile. Friday it was cool enough to do some cleaning and rearranging upstairs. My work area is quarantined to a small section of my incredibly small bedroom. I began by emptying out everything onto my bed. My cat was not happy with me! To help organize things I put everything in its own pile: a writer's magazines pile; miscellaneous magazine and pamphlet pile; a diabetes info pile; a running and fitness pile; a church pile; a pile for my work at Hospitality Basket; and finally what was left on my bed should be genealogy related. As I'm going through the piles and piles of things I came across an article  from the NGS Quarterly volume 82 # 4 from December 1994 . to article titled " Tracking a Soldier Between Enlistment and Discharge:  the Ex...

Tonight the Philadelphia Phillies lost to the Cincinnati Reds 78 years ago. It is not historical that the Phils lost (sorry fans). What makes this event historical is that - in 1935 - this game was the first Major League Baseball game held at night! While I certainly do not recall this event, I do remember many nights when I stayed over at my maternal grandparents and we all fell asleep listening to the Phils on the radio. I was never really into baseball - except when a guy I liked back in middle school played - so I do not recall the players or how well the team played. I simply rmember cuddling up with my grandfather and listening to the game. He was such a baseball fan! The Phllies were actually formed back in 1883. Their first game was 1 May 1883 at Recreation Park on the corner of 24th Street and Ridge Avenue.

Ellis Eckman is our featured veteran today as we come to a close of National Military Appreciation Month. Ellis served in the Civil War in the 13th Infantry.   This (above) pension application reveals that Ellis served in the H 13th US Infantry and the Rec. Party Gen. Ser. USA. He applied initially for his pension on 30 August 1894. His widow - Emma J. Eckman - applied on 28 August 1897.   Ellis and Emma are such common names in the Eckman Family and since I randomly chose him from a database on Ancestry.com, I simply cannot - at this moment - confirm any additional information.   Source: National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.   National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Returns from Regular Army Infantry Regiments, June 1821 - December 1916 ; Microfilm Serial: M665 ; ...

William Chester Eckman served in the US Army during World War I. Today we honor him as we continue our National Military Appreciation Month. He registered for the draft in June 1917. He was single at that time, according to his Draft Registration. He served in the Army from 27 May 1918 to 20 January 1919. PFC Eckman was assigned to the Dep Brig Rec Detachment. He served in Co K 314 Inf WWI. William was born 20 February 1889 in Cochranville, Chester County, PA. His parents were Henry E. and Phoebe Ella (nee Fox) Eckman. The 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 Censuses show William, still single, living in East Fallowfield with his parents and siblings. His siblings were Anna Lecritia (b. September 1891), George Henry (b. March 1898 ) and Jacob Derwood (b. 1903 ). Henry was 21 and Ella was 19 at the time of their marriage in 1888. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. Ella does appear in the 1940 Census as a widow. None of the children live with her. Instead s...

  SS Volturno this is the ship my great grandfather Panko Hruszczak came over on in 1911 at just 18 years of age, he arrived at Ellis Island on 20 April 1911 the port of deaprture was Rotterdam, Holland   The ship burned at sea just two and half years later.   Sources: http://fireontheocean.com/about-ss-volturno/ http://www.searlecanada.org/volturno/volturno28.html  

Charles W. Eckman served our country during the Civil War. He served as a Colonel in the Pennsylvania Infantry. After the War, he petitioned for his pension on 22 October 1879. His wife Sophia filed as his widow on 29 May 1906. Charles and Sophia were married in 1867. They lived in Mayberry, Montour County in 1900 with their three grown children: Catherine G. (26), Hettie R. (24), and Elisabteh B. (20). Charles (62 then) was a farmer. Sophia (then 53) kept house. All of them, and their parents, were born in Pennsylvania. The 1900 Census lists one's birth month and year. Hence we know that Charles was born June 1837. Sophia was born January 1847. Catherine was born March 1874. Hettie was born January 1876 and Elisabeth was born June 1879. The 1880 census shows three girls but the oldest is Mary. Most likely her name is Mary Catherine. Their home is shown as Danville, Montour County, PA. Charles was the postmaster! They had one boarder living with them as well. He was 23 year ...

As part of National Military Appreciation Month, today we recognize Charles T Eckman. He served in the Civil War. He filed for his pension in 1884. His widow Rosa B. Eckman filed in 1891.   Source: National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.

  John H. Yuzwiak, Jr. Born 22 November 1949 Died 16 July 2002 Vichnya Pamyat   buried at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Valley Twp., Chester County, PA John was born in 1949 to John and Catherine Kurenda Yuzwiak. Catherine is my Baba's (Anna Kurenda Ruczhak) sister. He had a brother Steve who had three children. John was very active in the Church and served in various positions, including Parish Board President.

Alan F. Kirchner served in the Air Force during Vietnam. His name caught my attention as I am still searching for some Kirchners on my husband's side. Alan is buried at St. Joseph's RC Church in Lancaster, which is where our Kirchner family members attended. His obit reads: Alan F. Kirchner, Sr., 53, of Lancaster, died Monday, September 5, 2005 of malignant melanoma. He was the husband of the late Dorothy E. "Dottie" Brooks Kirchner, who died in 1991. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Edward W. and Mary E. Rampulla Kirchner. He was a graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School, a veteran of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era, attaining the rank of Sergeant before being Honorably Discharged. He was a tradesman printer, but also a former bartender with past memberships in several local clubs including the Union Home Association, the Active and Alert Clubs, and the American Legion. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He w...

The Smithville Church of God in Smithville, Lancaster County recorded Henry and Kezia's burial in their small graveyard. Henry was born 13 September 1826 and buried on 17 Mar 1904. Kezia was born 1 November 1828 and was buried on 17 September 1884. Kezia's note reads: "w of Henry".   About Henry Eckman:  I found a Henry & Kezia Eckman in 1860 (on the 1860 Census) in Providence Township, Lancaster County, PA. He was 33 years old and a laborer. Kezia was 31. Living with them was four year old Albert Martin. The 1860 Census however does not record relationships among household members. Henry registered for the US Civil War Draft in 1863. His age, as of 1 July 1863, was 35. It reveals only that he is white, lives in Providence Township, is a laborer and was born in Pennsylvania.   I found the three again on the 1870 Census. Henry of course was 43; Kezia was 41 and Albert was 14. Also living with them was three year old William Zittle and 26 year old Eliza...

Each year the local VFW comes around to the various cemeteries in and around Coatesville ( Chester County , PA ) and does a nice service and 21 gun salute. Today the VFW is scheduled to visit Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery. Each year a specific veteran is selected and it is at this graveside that the VFW performs their service. Today is supposed to be Paul Kurenda.   Paul Kurenda is Baba's brother Paul - whom she affectionately always called. He enlisted as a Private on 1 January 1943 in Philadelphia . At the time of enlistment he was a welder at Lukens. He lived at home, up Rock Run, with his mom, Frances . His father, John, had predeceased him. He saw action in the European Theater. Uncle Paul died on 11 August 1944 in service to our country.   His obituary was published in the now-defunct Coatesville Record. Coatesville Record August 12, 1944 PFC. Paul Kurenda, aged twenty-two years, of 1047 Rock Run, died last night in Valley Forge General hospital after a ...

Rep. Steven Mentzer will continue "Salute to Veterans" event begun six years ago by former state Rep. John Bear. The 2013 “Salute to Veterans” event will take place on Monday, 27 May at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Each veteran and his or her guest is invited to join the two men for a Lancaster Barnstormers game, which will begin at 7 p.m. Both will receive free admittance to the ball game. There will be an on-field ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m., which will feature performances by the Manhattan Dolls and the Washington Memorial Pipe Band, along with an artillery salute by members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and a flyover by a B-25 bomber from the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. The emcee for the evening will beVietnam War veteran Dick Hoxworth. Seating is limited for the event, so reservations are required. To register, call the district office, anytime between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at (717) 626-1776, or click here...

After the Revolutionary War that has gained our young country independence from Britain, there were still many unresolved issues. The War of 1812 was again between the United States and Britain but this time land was not an issue. The causes of the war, according to History.com, were trade restrictions, the Royal Navy's impressment of American seamen and America's desire to expand its territory. The war lasted 32 months. Jacob Eckman enlisted on 25 August 1813. He was discharged on 30 April 1814. He served as a Private under Captain Stansbury in Co. 39 US Infantry. He claimed to have served as a substitute for another but does not name that person. Jacob married Mary Raney that same year (1814) in Cleveland, Ohio. He died in 1877. Source: Ancestry.com. War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

  Bilinski Michael 10 Feb. 1922 - 11 Feb. 1997 Helen 18 Jan. 1926 - 3 April 2001 buried together at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery Valley Township, Chester County, PA

I first read of Cpl Kenneth Wayne Eckman on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial while simply researching Eckmans in general. He was with D CO, 5TH BN, 7TH Calvary, 1ST Cav Div, USARV. He was, at just 19 years of age, KIA. He enlisted in the Army on 3 May 1967. He was stationed in Germany when he volunteered to go to Vietnam. His tour of Vietnam began on 29 March 1968 and ended in Thua Thien Province on 10 July 1968 after being mortally wounded in battle. He died of a grenade explosion. He is honored on the wall on Panel W52, Line 12. Born 6 February 1949, he is originally from Philadelphia, PA. There he was born at the Women's Homeopathic Hospital, the son of Joseph P and Mary Jane Steed Eckman. He grew up in Layton, Utah, having graduated from David HS. Eckman, who died young at age 19, was never married. He attended a Baptist Church. He was interred at the Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch in South Ogden, Utah. According to his obituary, he was sur...

 At just 20 years of age 18 December 18 December on  18 December May has been designated by Congress as National Military Appreciation Month. As such, Genealogical Gems is featuring a veteran or current member of the military each day. Yesterday, I first heard of William "Billy" Raymond Prom when I received an email from the PA General Assembly concerning HB 349. HB349 designates the bridge located over Washington's Landing and the Allegheny River, commonly known as the 31st Street Bridge, in Pittsburgh,  as the William Raymond Prom Memorial Bridge. Prom enlisted in the US Marine Corps reserve on 8 December 1967. He received his basic training at Parris Island in South Carolina and his combat training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina before being sent. to Vietnam in June 1968. While in Vietnam, he served as an ammunition man, assistant gunner, machine gun team leader and a machine gun squad leader. On 1 September 1969, he was promoted ...

I stumbled across a World War 2 POW Archive which includes several Eckmans. All were in the Army. I have no clue if any of these Eckmans are related (yet!) but I thought the source was interesting and being National Military Appreciation Month, I thought it was appropriate. Elmer M. Eckman is from Pennsylvania. His record reads: Name Elmer M Eckman Ser. Number 33088486 Grade Private Service Army Arm Infantry First Report 03/30/1943 Last Report 05/27/1946 Race White Residence Pennsylvania Organization Rifle Parent Unit 0039 Unit Type Group Regiment Commands System Area North African Theatre Tunisia Source Official Sources Status Liberated Or Repatriated Detaining Power Germany Camp Cc 59 Ascoli Picenzo Italy 43 13 The copyright for this site reads: Crafted Knowledge, Running "Edu Archive Site Suite V1.2" Ancestry.com also shares the same information. Their source is documented as: National Archives and Records Administration. World War II Prisoners...

May has been designated by Congress as National Military Appreciation Month. As such, Genealogical Gems is featuring a veteran or current member of the military each day. Today, I selected my Uncle Pete. Uncle Pete is my paternal grandfather's youngest brother. Born 16 October 1932 to Panko and Bessie Matys Hruszczak, he grew up and lived his life in Coatesville. Peter Ruczhak fought in the Korean War. He enlisted in the US Army on 1 February 1953. He was released on 22 December 1954. After the war, he returned home and married Marianne Sherman in 1956. They had two daughters. Uncle Pete passed away 19 April 2002 of natural causes. Aunt Marianne passed seven years later.

  Urban Joseph Sr & Mary   Joseph b 15 July 1898 d 3 February 1974 Mary b 30 July 1899 d 24 February 1984   buried at the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery Valley Township, Chester County, PA

May has been designated by Congress as National Military Appreciation Month. As such, Genealogical Gems is featuring a veteran or current member of the military each day. Today, I selected Benjamin Franklin VanHorn - the brother of my great great great grandfather, Chrispin P. VanHorn. On 2 September 1863, Benjamin was mustered into the Union Army at West Chester, PA. He served in Company H of the 90th Infantry. His term was a three year term. He was taken prisoner on 19 August 1864 at the Second Battle of Weldon Railroad in Virginia. On 26 November of 1864 the 90th Regiment consolidated with the 11th Regiment at the Siege of Petersburg. He was discharged at Annaplis, MS by General Order. Benjamin was born 8 March 1843 to George and Jane Dudbridge VanHorn in Coatesville, PA. His enlistment paperwork states he was a stone mason. At age 20 he stood 5'8", had light hair, a fair complexion and hazel eyes. He married Margaret Hensel on 24 April 1867 in Philadelphia, w...

May has been designated by Congress as National Military Appreciation Month. As such, Genealogical Gems is featuring a veteran or current member of the military each day. Today, I selected my Uncle Nick. Uncle Nick is Gigi's (my grandfather) brother. He served in World War II. He enlisted 1 August 1941 in Philadelphia. Cpl. Hruszczak served in the South Pacific in the Philippine Liberation with one Bronze Star. Nicholas Hruszczak (he changed it later to Ruczhak) is the fourth son of Panko & Bessie Matys Hruszczak. He married Ann Petro, also of Coatesville, PA. Uncle Nick and Aunt Ann have three daughters. Uncle Nick passed away on 05 Mar 2008. He is buried at the Russian Orthodox Cemetery in Valley Township, Chester County, PA.

The month of May has been designated by Congress as National Military Appreciation Month. As such, Genealogical Gems will feature a veteran or current member of the military each day. Today, we begin with Daddy - Joseph Ruczhak, Jr. Daddy fought in Vietnam and like many Vietnam veterans, he did not have the most positive experience, to put it nicely. I however am very proud of my father. This is him at left. It's a picture from an old issue of Lukens Life, the company newsletter for Lukens Steel Mill in Coatesville. Daddy worked there, His father and his grandfather worked there as well. Many other family members did too as it was the largest business in the Coatesville area - still is although it has long been bought out by another company. At the time of this photo, Daddy was a Specialist Four in the Army First Infantry Division. While I do not have a date for the article and photo, it was late 1965 or early 1966. Daddy arrived over there in 1965, having been drafted. ...

Uncle Paul, Uncle Nick & Gigi (Joseph) Hruszczak (Ruczhak)